Presentation on

Composite Materials in
Aerospace Industry
By,
Jithin Devan
AM15M009

Presentation Overview
1. Why composites are used in Aerospace industry
2. Types of composite fibres use in Aircrafts
3. Advantages & disadvantages of these composites
4. Airbus and its innovation standard for composite environment
5. Future of Composites in Aerospace Industry

6. Conclusion

Why composites are used in

Aerospace industry
High strength & stiffness characteristics.
Reducing weight thus reduction of fuel usage.
Composites are more resistant than metal to fatigue from
repeated take off/landing cycles and corrosion.
Fewer costly inspections over the aircrafts lifespan.

Types of composite fibres use in

Aircrafts
Fiberglass Composite

Types of composite fibres use in

Aircrafts
Carbon-fibre-reinforced Polymer

Types of composite fibres use in

Aircrafts
Aramid Fibre Composites

Advantages of composites
1. Weight reduction savings in the range 20% - 50% are often quoted
2. Mechanical properties can be tailored by lay-up design, with tapering
thicknesses of reinforcing cloth and cloth orientation.
3. High impact resistance Kevlar (aramid) armor shields planes, too for
example, reducing accidental damage to the engine pylons which carry
engine controls and fuel lines.

4. High damage tolerance improves accident survivability.

Disadvantages of composites
1. Higher nonrecurring costs
2. Higher material costs
3. Non-visible impact damage
4. Repairs are different than those to metal structure
5. Isolation needed to prevent adjacent aluminum part galvanic corrosion.

Airbus and its innovation standard for

composite environment
Airbus was the first manufacturer to make extensive use of
composites and other advanced materials for producing large
commercial aircraft, beginning with the A310 jetliner (<5%)

Composites in
Elevators & VTP Box

Airbus and its innovation standard for

composite environment

Airbus A380 Composite applications

Airbus A350 Composite applications

Airbus A350 Composite applications

Fuselage design goals:

1. Reduce operational cost

2. Reduce global environmental impact

3. Aeroelastic tailoring as a passive adaptive structure

Solution:
1. Use of CFRP panels, stringers, frame, Keel Beam
2. Panel as long as possible to reduce the amount of
circumferential joints
3. Optimization of each panel for its design case

Airbus A350 Composite applications

Benefits:

1. Improve passenger comfort by higher cabin pressure

2. Weight reduction : Fuel-burn savings

3. Cost reduction and environmental impact reduction

4. Fatigue- and corrosion-free

Airbus A350 Composite applications

Airbus A350 Composite applications

Wings are more efficient and quieter due to their advanced
design, and are able to adapt while airborne-tailoring it for
maximum aerodynamic efficiency in the various phases of flight.

Future of Composites in Aerospace

Industry
New materials can be defined as materials which have yet to be
applied in an as-designed application in aviation.

Some of these materials, particularly metal matrix composites

(MMC) and ceramic matrix composites (CMC) have seen some in-

flight testing and are approaching military use but have yet to
gain wide ranging acceptance by OEMs for various reasons.

Future of Composites in Aerospace

Industry
1. Ceramic matrix composites (CMCs)
2. Metal matrix composites (MMCs)
3. Carbon Nanotube technology
4. Shape memory metals (SSMs)
5. Core materials